Mugabe, Africa’s longest serving president announces retirement

In a move which many didn’t see coming, Africa’s longest serving President Robert Mugabe has announced he will retire from public office after initially maintaining that he would die in office.

Mugabe made the declaration while addressing a group of war veterans at the weekend. He admitted that the country’s economy is crumbling and said he would retire.

The ageing leader told “war collaborators” that he believes he had now “defeated the British and Americans and that he understood times were difficult in Zimbabwe.

Read also: US warns its citizens in Europe to be wary of terrorist attacks during Yuletide

The 92-year-old Mugabe who has ruled Zimbabwe for the past 36 years after he came to power after the country gained independence, in a separate speech while addressing thousands of Zimbabweans who rallied to support him, also said; “As long as the party says continue, I continue…If I still have the energy, I still have the life, the blessings of God, I will continue”.

But according to a Harare-based financial analyst; “There was a time, some years ago, when Zimbabwe seemed important, that it could be a powerhouse in the region, but that moment has long gone, and now it is hard to find anyone who can forecast how it can repay its debts even with a new leadership, let alone attract foreign investment”.

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now